BUSAN (South Korea), Sept 25: North Korean athletes were in the cross-chairs of an Asian Games controversy Wednesday over special treatment that has upset the media, other competitors, and the North’s own supporters here.

North Korea’s decision last month to take part in the Sept 29-Oct 14 Games delighted South Korean organizers and boosted to efforts to ease tension between two rival states.

South and North Korea have remained hostile half-a-century after the 1950-53 Korean War, which has never officially ended, and Busan organizers agreed to provide the North delegation with stepped-up security at the Games.

Tight security measures became apparent Monday when anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of some 150 North Korean athletes and officials arriving at Busan airport was hustled away by police.

The so-called “unification” cheerleaders, an official South Korean cheer squad for the North, turned up at the airport to give a rousing welcome to the northerners only to be sent packing by police.

Similar stringent security measures were in place when the North Korean flag was raised at the athletes’ village Tuesday.

The cheerleaders have filed an official protest with the Asian Games Organizing Committee, saying heavy-handed security is jeopardizing efforts to improve the inter-Korean ties.

Journalists, meanwhile, accuse organisers of imposing what amounts to a news blackout concerning the North.

National news agency Yonhap said reporters have been kept away from North Korean training sessions by organising committee officials who refuse to release training schedules and advise the media to keep coverage of the North’s athletes to a minimum.

Reporters who do catch up with North Korean competitors also come up against security. The North Korean women’s table tennis team were hustled away under escort by a security detail when journalists tried to speak to them at their training centre.—AFP